Keeling has worked for Fuller’s for 37 years, taking over the role of head brewer in 1999 when previous head brewer Reg Drury retired as brewing director. Keeling will now focus on project work, including collaboration beers as well as speaking at conferences.
“This is a fantastic move for George and owes a great deal to John Keeling. He hired George as a production brewer in 1999, has developed her throughout her career at Fuller’s, and will continue to mentor her,” said Simon Dodd, managing director of Fuller’s Beer Company.
“With George assuming day-to-day responsibility for the brewery, John will have more flexibility to promote Fuller’s on a wider global stage. He plays an important ambassadorial role and is in demand worldwide to speak at conferences and judge at numerous high-profile international beer awards. John will also continue to work on numerous other projects such as collaboration beers.”
John Keeling added: “I’m delighted to see George promoted to this role. She is very well-respected at Fuller’s and throughout the wider industry and is the first female head brewer at Fuller’s. She’s a great person to lead the brewery going forwards and inspire the next generation of brewers.”
Keeling received the prestigious John Young Memorial award from the London branch of CAMRA in 2014. The award was first presented in 2007 in memory of the former chairman of Young’s brewery.
Fuller’s runs 196 tenanted pubs and 196 managed pubs and hotels. It also has 665 boutique bedrooms within in its managed estate. The pub estate stretches from Brighton to Birmingham and from Bristol to the Greenwich Peninsula, including 175 locations within the M25. In 2014, Fuller’s acquired a 51% stake in The Stable, a craft cider and gourmet pizza restaurant business. A further 25% stake was acquired in May 2016, taking its ownership to 76%.